10 A-List Choices
The A List is a teen mystery series, with short episodes but an undeniably gripping premise. If you’ve finished watching this one and are looking for alternatives – fret not! We’ve combed through the archives and saved you the hassle with our top 10 picks for alternate viewing. To keep things simple for skim-readers we’ve added what similarities these have. Of course for all the shows we’ve reviewed, we’ve also added a handy link so you can check out our full thoughts on that series and see if it’s something you want to invest your time with. So without further ado, we present 10 TV shows that should whet the appetite when you’ve finished streaming The A List.
Lost
Similarities – Mysteries on an island
Back in 2004, a tiny show called Lost went way over-budget with its pilot episode. The consequences of that saw several people fired. Little did they know this mishap would help grow Lost into a worldwide phenomenon that completely changed the way people watched TV. This highly engrossing, mystery series revolves around a group of plane-crash survivors washing up on shore and fighting for survival on a very weird island holding many, many secrets. Across 7 seasons the show does lose its way a little but it serves up an engrossing and unmissable journey nonetheless. If you haven’t seen it already, Lost is a must-watch show.
Pretty Little Liars
Similarities – Teen Issues & Mystery
Pretty Little Liars revolves around four friends who are stalked by an anonymous foe who reveals their darkest secrets. If that wasn’t enough, this quartet also work together to investigate the disappearance of their best friend; the Queen Bee of the group, Allison. What begins as a simple mystery soon become so much more as twists and turns keep things suspenseful. There’s an element of Gossip Girl in here too but what keeps this one so interesting stems from finding out who “A” is and what these girls may be hiding from each other. It can be a little slow moving at times but if you’re a fan of teen dramas then this one is worth sticking with for the long haul.
Outer Banks
Similarities – Thrilling Adventure & Teen Angst
Outer Banks is one of those shows that just seems to work. It has just the right amount of humour, a solid Famous Five/Goonies feel and a decent mystery that progresses at a good pace. The story itself revolves around the Outer Banks, an island that plays host to two distinct tribes. The Kooks and Pogues live on the class divide, with the poor Pogues where our four friends – John B, JJ, Kiara and Pope – start their adventure. Their mission involves finding John B’s missing Father and a hidden treasure holding 400 million in gold bars. Engrossing, exciting and action-packed – Outer Banks is another solid choice. You can read our thoughts on Outer Banks in our full season review here!
Locke And Key
Similarities – Dark Mystery & Supernatural Elements
Locke & Key, based on the visual novels of the same name, blends lite-horror elements with a healthy dose of mystery. The story revolves around three siblings, Bode, Kensey and Tyler, who move back into their childhood home Key House. Pushing aside the haunting memories of their Father’s murder (which took place inside these four walls), numerous magical keys are hidden around the house that could hold the clue to the mysteries lurking within. Despite feeling a little overlong at times, the series does well to keep itself engaging throughout its 10 episode season. You can read our thoughts on Locke & Key in our full season review here!
A Series Of Unfortunate Events
Similarities – Engrossing Mystery
After the successful translation of the popular book series to film, it was always going to be a tough ask to then reboot A Series Of Unfortunate Events to the small screen. Well, the TV show far surpasses the film in a well structured, deliciously dark feature. The show boasts some great writing and bursts of genuinely funny moments along the way. Split across three satisfying seasons, A Series Of Unfortunate Events revolves around the Baudelaire orphans who find themselves caught in the midst of a cat and mouse game with the dastardly Count Olaf after their parents are killed in a fire. As the seasons progress, it soon becomes apparent that the Baudelaire fortune Olaf is after may hold more than a few secrets. Can the orphans survive long enough to uncover the truth? You can read our thoughts on A Series Of Unfortunate Events in our full season review here!
Are You Afraid Of The Dark?
Similarities – Urban Legends & Teens
While Are You Afraid Of The Dark? is tailored toward kids, there’s no denying that some of the stories are pretty creepy. There’s an array of different tales to choose from and while some have aged poorly, others have not. Unlike its spiritual cousin Goosebumps, there’s some genuinely unnerving stories here and creatures lurking in the depths of this anthology. If you fancy something a little spooky but with the same-preteen tone as The A List, this one is a solid blast from the past.
The Secret Circle
Similarities – Teens & Supernatural Elements
Released back in 2011, The Secret Circle is a CW teen drama centering on 16 year old Cassie Blake. When she moves to Chance Harbor, Washington to live with her grandmother, her life is turned upside down. All of this occurs after her Mother mysteriously dies. It doesn’t take long before Cassie learns that she’s a witch, alongside five other teens who are as well. The story is quite well written although the characters do have some questionable chemistry at times. Still, the mystery and tone of this should keep fans of The A List happy.
The Hardy Boys
Similarities -Adventure & Characters
Split across 13 episodes, this familial drama blends elements of Stranger Things, Riverdale and Outer Banks to deliver a fun-filled treasure hunt. While the story does have some narrative inconsistencies and a bit of filler midway through, there’s enough in this to enjoy. The basic premise revolves around brothers Joe and Frank Hardy, who act as amateur sleuths and become mixed up in large and dangerous mysteries. It’s a very simple hook and one that’s evolved and expanded beyond the books for this 2020 adaptation. The Hardy Boys is a really fun ride and definitely worth watching if you like treasure hunt adventures. You can read our thoughts on The Hardy Boys in our full season review here!
Riverdale
Similarities – Mystery & Teenagers
Split across 5 seasons, Riverdale is a twisty-turny teen drama and one of the few shows on this list that we’d recommend not watching more than a season or two. The later seasons completely jump the gun and begin convoluting the narrative unnecessarily and across so many episodes, it just begins to feel frustrating to watch. However, the first two seasons are pretty good and have enough mystery and intrigue to keep you watching. The story itself begins – in season 1 at least – with a high school tragedy that leaves Archie, his gang and various other students reeling. As the early “whodunit” vibes bleed through, this is blended in with teen angst, romance and drama across its 13 episodes. The rest of the seasons increase the run-time and number of episodes, bringing a feeling that this show is running on empty. Still the early seasons are definitely worth checking out at least.
Stranger Things
Similarities – Teens Solving Crimes & Nostalgia
The little gem on Netflix, Stranger Things is undoubtedly one of the biggest Originals on the platform. It’s also probably the only one safe from being cancelled any time soon. The story revolves around a group of teens who become thrust into a supernaturally charged, heady world of nightmares when a young boy called Will disappears. With little clues beyond a strange girl called Eleven who shows up with telekinetic powers, it’s up to a ragtag group of misfits to thwart the evil before it’s too late. With some intriguing ideas about parallel worlds and some great throwbacks to the 80’s, Stranger Things is a solid choice and with plenty of story to get through, there’s enough here to whet the appetite ready for season 4. You can read our thoughts on Stranger Things in our full season reviews here! So there we have it, our 10 TV show alternatives to watch when you’re finished with The A List on Netflix. What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!
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